Most people overlook the teaching profession for reasons ranging from low pay to not wanting to be in a school any more, but the reality is, teaching is the only truly rewarding profession that I know of. Not only does being a teacher allows you to make a difference for the generations that are behind you, but also, teaching life skills that will help kids in their future past the classroom is really important to me.

All students have different learning styles, so it is important for teachers to have flexible teaching techniques, but having a hands-on environment, students will master the information and completely understand it. A student-centered classroom is the most important idea in an ideal classroom for me because the learning revolves around students. Like Marva Collins said, " Don't try to fix the students; fix ourselves first. The good teacher makes the poor student good, and the good student superior. When our students fail, we as teachers, too, have failed."

Building a relationship with your students is a very big deal to me. There should be mutual respect but it is important for teachers to always set a good example for their students at all times. Some students may need a strong role model that they might not have at their house, so teachers should make students feel like they are unique and special individuals.

When I teach, my primary goal is for students to learn and understand the information and get a hunger to consume more. I want students to learn life lessons that will benefit them in their future and feel prepared for the next thing life throws at them.

As a future teacher, I feel the most important roles are to be prepared and to be available. We need to prepare students for the next grade, a job, understanding information, and determining right from wrong. We also need to have time available before and after school for those who need extra help and have an open door policy for students to talk about anything that they need to, especially since teachers may be the only adult that a student trusts.

To be a successful teacher, you cannot be motivated by the money. The drive and passion teachers have for their job is what truly makes them effective. You can’t learn drive and passion, it is given to you; it is your call. Once you find your calling to be a teacher, you can learn the skills that you will need to teach, because you have the heart to do it already.